Professor to head commission looking at Holyrood powers

Published on Tuesday 25 March 2008 13:02

A SENIOR academic who has worked as a top civil servant both north and south of the Border was today named as chairman of the commission looking at new powers for the Scottish Parliament.

Professor Sir Kenneth Calman, Chancellor of Glasgow University, was Scotland's Chief Medical Officer for two years before moving to a similar post in London.

Today, he was handed the job of heading the Scottish Constitutional Commission set up by Labour, the Lib Dems and Tories to produce recommendations on further devolution for Holyrood.

The party leaders believe his experience working at the highest levels of government in Scotland and in Whitehall make him well qualified for the task.

The commission was first proposed by Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander in a speech at Edinburgh University in November and the idea was later endorsed by a majority vote in the Scottish Parliament.

Labour, the Lib Dems and Tories are each expected to nominate a couple of representatives to a central commission, which could also include some non-political members. But much of the detailed work, including examination of possible extra tax powers, is likely to be carried out by expert working groups.

Sir Kenneth and his colleagues are expected to produce a preliminary report within a year and draw up final recommendations in time for either a Westminster general election in 2010 or the next Holyrood elections in 2011.

The announcement on the commission came as Prime Minister Gordon Brown set out his case for preserving the Union, describing the UK as "the world's most successful multi-national state". He said the Union made it possible to combine separate national identities with shared values which reflected a "wider Britishness".

In an article for the Daily Telegraph, aimed mainly at an English audience, he said: "We must be resolute in defending the Union and argue against those who put it at risk."

Mr Brown said there was "no Scotland-only, Wales-only, England-only solution" to challenges such as terrorism, foot-and-mouth disease, avian flu, security and climate change."

He wrote: "There is a modern case for the Union, and it must be heard: it is not about partnership at the expense of pride, or about pride that can be satisfied only by sacrificing partnership. Instead, it is to ensure that each region and nation of the UK flourishes within a covenant and in a partnership of equals for the benefit of all."

Sir Kenneth, 67, held medical and academic posts in London and Glasgow before being appointed Scotland's Chief Medical Officer in 1989. Two years later, he became Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health in London, moving to Durham University as Vice-Chancellor in 1998. He retired last year.

The constitution will be a focus again tomorrow when First Minister Alex Salmond starts the second phase of the SNP's National Conversation on Scotland's future.